Leading Female Politician, Activist Eyes Afghan Presidency

A prominent female lawmaker has repeated her intention to run for Afghanistan's presidency when current President Hamid Karzai's term runs out in two years' time, suggesting she sees signs that gender bias is easing among some Afghans.

By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan

In an interview with RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan, parliamentarian Fawzia Koofi said she believes certain intellectual groups in deeply religously conservative Afghanistan are increasingly ready to accept a woman as president.

Afghan women launched unsuccessful bids for president in that country's 2004 and 2009 elections, which were won by President Hamid Karzai, the only leader the country has had since the UN-backed Bonn agreement in late 2001 ushered him into power.

Karzai is constitutionally barred from seeking another term in the next vote, due in 2014.